The impact of Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed cuts to school and municipal aid awards has gotten the headlines this week, but libraries will also be feeling the pinch under his budget plan.
The governor’s budget proposal cuts state library funding by 74 percent – $10.4 million. Funding for the Talking Book and Braille Center would be eliminated, forcing the service to shut down.
Approximately 250 of the state’s public libraries currently receive their internet access through New Jersey’s State Library; once the money runs out, they’ll have to make other arrangements lose the service.
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According to State Librarian Norma Blake, New Jersey’s inter-library loan program would be shut down at the end of June once the current funding runs out.
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“The most devastating effects are the loss of statewide databases that the State Library pays for and we access,” Anderson said.“We use them to help local business people create job lists for sales prospecting and mailings. They are also used to help patrons research companies for career prospects and job interviews. We use the Ebsco databases to help people research everything from consumer health questions to educational assistance. Students access these databases as well, from home in many cases,” she said.
Support Our Fair State's libraries. Please, tell your legislators to STOP the proposed library funding cuts.
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